Our  Canaries 
199 
colour  is  to  dust  the  soft  foods  given  with  a  light  covering  of  saccharated 
carbonate  of  iron.  The  effect  of  this  upon  richness  of  colour  is  very  marked. 
But  whilst  it  is  perfectly  legitimate  to  use  it  for  natural  colour  breeds  where 
artificial  colour  is  not  forbidden,  we  should  scarcely  consider  it  a  legitimate 
method  of  improving  the  Border  Fancy,  though  we  are  by  no  means  convinced 
that  its  use  is  not  sometimes  resorted  to,  as  the  absence  of  any  red,  "  or  hot " 
tone  accruing  from  a  liberal  use  of  the  ordinary  "  feeds  "  renders  it  practically 
impossible  to  stake  one's  reputation  on  any  given  subject  having  been  colour- 
fed  with  it.  The  absence  of  strong  sunlight  whilst  the  plumage  is  growing 
and  maturing  is  also  a  material  help  to  getting  a  rich  tone  of  colour. 
Very  strong  daylight,  and  particularly  sunlight,  has  a  most  detrimental 
and  bleaching  effect  upon  certain  colours  and  delicate  tones  of  colour,  and 
yellow  is  particularly  susceptible  to  these  influences.  For  this  reason  it  is 
essential,  if  one  wishes  to  obtain  the  best  results,  to  shut  out  strong  daylight 
whilst  the  new  plumage  is  growing  and  maturing,  as  birds  are  more  than  usually 
susceptible  to  the  bleaching  effects  of  light  whilst  in  an  immature  condition. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  put  the  birds  in  darkness.  A  light  cover  may  be  hung 
over  the  fronts  of  the  cages,  or  a  curtain  suspended  before  them  at  a  distance 
of  two  or  three  inches,  and  in  a  very  bright  room  the  window-blinds  drawn 
down  in  addition.  All  that  is  really  necessary  is  to  reduce  the  light  in  the 
cages  to  a  kind  of  gloaming,  which  will  keep  the  birds  quiet  and  steady,  but 
still  leave  them  sufficient  light  to  find  their  way  about  the  cage  and  to  the 
seed  and  water  vessels  quite  comfortably. 
MOULTING  THE  BORDER  FANCY. 
For  the  following  notes  on  moulting  this  popular  breed  we  are  indebted 
to  that  well-known  breeder,  Mr.  J.  S.  Wilson,  of  Workington.  "In  moulting 
the  Border,"  he  writes,"!  strongly  advocate  the  covering-up  process.  The 
more  rapid  the  moult  the  better  the  result.  This,  of  course,  only  applies  to 
the  likely  exhibition  specimen,  for  the  Border  requires  no  coddling.  Clean- 
liness, generous  egg-feeding,  and  a  consideration  of  variety  of  food,  combined 
with  proper  room  and  sufficient  ventilation,  are  all  that  is  desired." 
A  THORNY  SUBJECT. 
"  Although  the  breed  has  made  great  headway,  there  are  one  or  two  pit-falls 
it  would  be  well  to  avoid  if  its  future  is  to  be  assured.  The  chief  of  these,  in  my 
opinion,  is  the  question  of  colour  and  colour-feeding.  As  everyone  knows,  both  the 
English  and  Welsh  Border  Fancy  Canary  Club  and  the  Border  Fancy  Canary 
Club  have  banned  colour-feeding  altogether.  When  first  mooted  I  opposed 
this  course,  and,  far  from  seeing  anything  to  induce  a  change  of  opinion,  I 
have  observed  much   to  convince  me  that  the  question  is  far  from  settled, 
T2 
